Art of producing containers



June 21, 1932. H B R D ART OF PRODUCING CONTAINERS Fi le d Nov. 27. 1931 INVEENTOR flarjyfl Rudd. BY

therein under high Patented June 21, IP32 UNITED. STATES P iunnx a. mum. or nouems'ron, NEW Your. assrexoa re 3min mms coaronarrox, a ooaroaarron or nmwm -.mr or rnonucmo commune Application as Iovember :7, ma Serial 10. 577,568.

My invention relates to the art of producing containers destined for any suitable or desired use such, for example, as containers adapted to have a fluid medium existing ressure conditions.

In accordance wit my invention, a container is formed 'or produced by a drawing operation effected on a mass of metal. Preliminarily, there is formed a tube-like struc- 7 ture which is'closedat one end by a transverse wall surface, the container bottomsurface being suitably sha d or fashioned as desired- An opening 0 suitable diameter or configuration is then formed in the aforesaid transverse wall surface whereby there is pro duced an inwardly directed flange with the lower surface of which a closure plate is adapted to be tightlyengaged in response to the application of pressure developed inte- 'riorly of the container.

Usually, the lower surface of the aforesaid flange should be machined to provide a smooth and even seating surface for said closure plate which pre erably is movable 2 axially out of and into the container before and after each filling operation.

Further objects and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed d'escriptionitaken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

- My invention resides in the art or method ofproducing containers, and in the features, relations and operations of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to 4 .tion of a container structure in accordance with my invention; a

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a container structure as existing in a subsequent stage of the manufacturing operation;

Fig.3 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the container structure of Fig.

2 with an associated valve mechanism;

Fig. 3a is a plan view of the container structure shown in Fig. 3;.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partly in sec tion of the container structure as existing in a su sequent stage of the manufacturing OP. eration;

, Fig. 4a is a plan view of the container structure shown in Fig. 4;

, Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partly in sec.- tion, of a completed container;

Fig. 5a is a plan view showing the filling opening of the container of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 5b is a plan view showing the closure 1 plate of the container of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents a seamless partly completed structure destined to be a container, tank or the like. Preferably, the structure A is obtained or produced by a suitable drawing operation effected on a plate or billet of steel. As shown in Fig. 1, the structure A comprises a top section or transverse wall surface a havin circular side wall structure 6 depending therefrom, the latter being open at its bottom as illustrated.

Fig. 2 is representative of the structure A after it has been reheated and sub'ected to a suitable shaping operation where y there is produced a curved lower section a terminating in a depending neck (1 forming a passage opening into sald structure A. Alternatively, a plane bottom wall may be. pro vided at the lower-part of the container as hereinafter described in. connection with other forms of the invention. V 4 Figs. 3 and 3a are representative of the structure A as it appears in Fig. 2 with the exception that the neck (1 is shown as having been internally threaded for the reception of suitable valve or closure mechanism B. 1

Referririg to Figs 4 and 4a, the top section a of the structure A is shown after it has been provided with a circular opening e. This opening e may be produced in any suitable manner, as by a boring or cutting operation. As clearly appears on the drawing, the circular opening e is concentric with respect to the side wall structure I), and the diameter of said opening a is somewhat less than that of said side wall structure 6. Accordingly, after formation of the circular opening 0, all that remains of the aforesaid top section a is a circular flange a1.

, may be effected b the ap lication thereto of any suitable tool erein 1 ustrated diagrammatically at 1, Fig. 4.

In Fig. 5a, the aforesaid circular opening e is shown-after it has been rovided with notches or recesses f, f dispose respectively, at opposite diametric sides thereof. The notches f, f may be formed by a suitable milling operation performed on the flange a1 and, preferably, they define arcs of a circle having a substantially smaller radius than that of the circular opening 0.

Obviously, if desired, the above described smoothing operation for the flange surface (12 may be performed after, as well as before, the roduction of the notches f, f.

sually, the structure A as it exists in its completed state in Fig. 5 is adapted to serve as a container or tank for any suitable substance or material which remains therein at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, said'substance or material usually being introduced into said structure A through the opening e. Accordingly, said opening e serves as a filling opening and it is necessary that it be sealed during use of the container. For this purpose, there may be utilized a closure plate 9 of the character illustrated in Fi 5 and 56, said closure plate being genera y circular save for oppositely disposed arcuate projections k, h. The diameter 11 of said closure plate should slightly exceedthe diameter of the circular opening 0 and each arcuate projection 72. should define the arc of a circle somewhat reater in diameter than that of that circle 0 which each notch f is an arc. On its upper surface, the closure plate g may carry an eyelet j to which, for manipulating purposes, a chain is is secured. As clearly appears, the closure plate, including the arcuate projections k, h, is peripherally flanged for the reception of a sealing gasket, not shown.

When the closure plate 9 is in closing position as shown in Fig. 5, the upper peripheral surface thereof presses the aforesaid gasket into engagement with the lower flanged sur face 02. When thus in closing position, the arcuate projections h, h are disposed, res ct'vely, in alinement with the notches f, f, th: u per peripheral surface of each projection pressing a section of the aforesaid gasket into engagement with that overlying surface of the flange al which defines the adjacent notch With the parts in the relation shown in ig. 5, it is assumed that the gas pressure interiorly of the container is greater than atmospheric pressure. As a result,

rages the closure 1m as positively retained in closing position and, the greater the gas pressure in the container, the more firmly is said closure plate retained in closed position.

When it is desired to open the container filling opening, the gas pressure interiorly of the container is suitably reduced to that of the atmosphere, as by opening of the valve mechanism B, and the closure plate is lowered from the flange a1 and dispose axially of said container. Then, with the closure plate 9 disposed axially, it is so positioned that the major axis (the straight line extending from tip to tip of the projections h, h) extends vertically, or approximately so, the closure plate g being now readily removable from the container. In a correspondingly simple manner, the closure plate may be reseated interiorly of the container when it again becomes desirable to close the same.

An important characteristic of my invention involves the use of a container or tank of the character herein described as a converter of solid or semi-solid carbon dioxide. To this end, with the closure plate 9 removed from the container, one or more blocks of the aforesaid solid or semi-solid carbon dioxide may be introduced thereinto whereupon said closure plate 9 is placed in closing position as shown in Fig. 5 and so held in suitable manner until there has been suflicient evolution of carbon dioxide gas interiorly of the container to produce pressure therein in excess of atmospheric pressure. Thereafter, the closure late is held in container-sealing position y gas pressure, the sealing action occurring, in accordance with my invention, at the surface a2 of the flan e 01.

ere the container is thus utilized as a converter of carbon dioxide, it is desirable that a plurality of discharge or dispensing conduits be fitted thereinto adjacent the top thereof. As herein shown, two such conduits m and n are utilized, the conduit m passing carbon dioxide gas to a suitable carbonator, or uivalent, not shown, and the conduit n having connected thereto a tube, not shown, which di s into the liquid carbon dioxide so that the atter may be dispensed and used for any desired purpose. For each of the conduits m and n, a suitable hole is drilled in the container side wall 6 and, after a strengthening boss is welded in position as shown, each hole is suitably threaded for the recepltion of the conduit to be associated therewit During the final stage of the drawing operation, the side wall structure I) is left at such thickness that it will withstand a maximum interior container pressure of the order of 3,000 pounds r square inch, or more. Further, the thicl iess of the end section a is so chosen that the resultant flange (11 will withstand, without bending or deformation,

an interior container pressure such as noted above. In practice, it has roven desirable to so shape the container si e wall structureelliptical, square, or rectangular, the respective closure plates to have a corresponding configuration. Or, the filling opening. might be circular in which case, the closure plate would remain interiorly of the container during the filling operation. In view of the above, it will be understood that the term diameter is used in the appended claims in a general sense with respect to the openin formed in the transverse wall surface a. When the filling openingis elliptical, square orof other suitable configuration, I mean by the term diameter, a dimension of said opening transversely of the longitudinal axis of the container.

In operation, the tank or container hereinbefore described is supported in upright position in any suitable manner. For example, suitable leg structure, not shown, may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the tank whereby it issupported in upright position as shown.

The advantages of my invention are nu-.

merous and of importance. By the described manufacturing operations, the tanks or containers are advantageously and satisfactorily produced with minimum expense. By the de scribed drawing operation, the seamless container A isprovided with the top section a which is later apertured so as to form the filling opening.

With my invention, the arrangement is such that the interior seating surface for the closure plate may be suitably machined to provide a smooth, even surface whereby leakage of the container contents is prevented. This, in accordance with my invention is of great importance.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and b scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications. What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In the art of manufacturing a container, the steps which consist in producing,

ig. 5a. As well, said' filling opening might be diameter, and forming in said wall surface,

an opening having less diameter'than that of said wall surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at the top of said tube-like structure.

2. In the art of manufacturing a container, the steps which consist in producing, by a drawing operation effected on a mass 0 metal, a tube-like structure closed at one end by a transverse wall surface, shapin the. other end of said tube-like structure to orm a neck having an opening of restricted ameter, forming in said wall surface an opening having less diameter than that of said wall surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at the top of said tube-like structure, and machining the lower surface of said flange to render it smooth and even.

4 3. In the art of manufacturing a container, the steps which consist in producing, by a drawing operation effected on a mass of metal, a tube-like structure closed at one end by a disk-like wall surface, shaping the other end of said tube-like structure to form a neck havin an openin of restricted diameter, threa ing said nec for the reception of a valve stem, forming insaid wall surface an opening having less diameter than that of said wall surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at thetop of said tube-like structure, machining the lower surface of said flange to render it smooth and even, and forming openings in said tube-like structure adapted for the subsequent reception of dispensing conduits, respectively.

4. In the art of manufacturing a container, the steps which consist in producing, by a drawing operation efiected on a mass of metal, a tube-like structure closed at one end by a transverse wall surface, shaping the other end of said tube-like structure to form a neck having an opening of restricted diameter, and forming in said wall surface an opening having less diameter than that of said wall surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at the top of said tube-like structure, said opening being of non-circular configuration and adapted for the passage therethrough of a closure plate of corresponding configuration.

5. In the art of manufacturing a container, the steps which consist in producing, y a drawing operation efl'ected on a mass of metal, a tube-like structure closed at one end by a transverse wall surface having substantially greater thickness thgn that of said tube-like structure, shaping the other end of said tube-like structure to form a neck having an opening of restricted diameter, and forming in said wall surface. an opening having lem diameter than that of said wall surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at the top of said tube-like structure, said opening being of non-circular configuration and adapted for the passage therethrough of a closure plate of corresponding configuration.

6. n the art of manufacturing a container the steps which consist in producing, by a drawing operation effected on a mass of metal, a tube-like structure closed at one end by a transverse wall surface, shapin the other end of said tube-like structure to orm the container bottom surface, and forming in said wall surface an openin having less di ameter than that of said wafi surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at the to of said tube-like structure.

7 In the art of manufacturin acontainer, the steps which consist in pr ucing, by a drawing operation effected on a mass of metal, a tube-like structure closed at one end by a transverse wall surface, shaping the other end of said tube-like structure to form the container bottom surface, forming in said wall surface an opening having less diameter than that of said wall surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at the top of said tube-like structure, and machining the lower surface of said flange to render it smooth and even, said opening being of non-circular confi uration and adapted for the passage theret rough of a closure plate of corresponding configuration.

8. In the art of manufacturing a container, the steps which consist in producing, by a drawing operation effected on a mass of metal, a tube-like structure closed at one end by a transverse wall surface, shaping the other end of said tube-like structure to form the container bottom surface, forming in said wall surface a circular opening having less diameter than that of said wall surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at the top of said tube-like structure, and forming arcuate notches in said flange at opposite diametric sides thereof.

9. In the art of manufacturing a container, the steps which consist in producing, by a drawing operation elfected on a mass of metal, a tube-like structure closed at one end by a transverse wall surface, shaping the other end of said tube-like structure to form a neck having an opening of restricted diameter, forming in said wall surface a circular opening having less diameter than that of said wall surface whereby an inwardly directed flange is produced at the top of said tube-like structure, forming arcuate notches in said flange at opposite diametric sides thereof, and machining the lower surface of said flange to render it smooth and even.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

"HARRY B. RUDD. 

